Eastern`s Union Pilots Not Flying To London

August 9, 1985|By Tom Stieghorst, Business Writer

Eastern Airlines has canceled several flights on its new Miami-London route and indefinitely delayed a scheduled expansion of service because it has not reached a contract with pilots who are needed to fly its DC-10 airplane, a company spokesman said.

The airline scrubbed a flight on Aug. 1, and has kept to its three-flight-a- week schedule, despite plans to double its weekly service at the start of this month, said Eastern spokesman Glenn Parsons. He said union pilots have declined to fly the planes until details of a contract are worked out.

Eastern has been using supervisory pilots to maintain its triweekly schedule into London`s Gatwick Airport, Parsons said. Eastern began its London flights on July 15.

Because Eastern had no DC-10s in its fleet before then, there is no pattern for wage rates on the plane, said a union spokesman. ``Anytime you bring in a new piece of equipment like the DC-10, you`re required to negotiate it into the contract, because it`s a different piece of equipment,`` said Dan Vician, secretary-treasurer of the Air Line Pilots Association.

Negotiators for Eastern and ALPA have been meeting for months, trying to hash out improvements in a previous contract reached in February. Vician said the DC-10 matter is ``part and parcel`` of those negotiations. Neither side could predict when an agreement will be reached, allowing Eastern to return to its original schedule.

Although Eastern had no firm count, it`s likely that hundreds of London-bound passengers have been affected by the scheduling change. The Miami airline had more than 5,000 reservations when it began the route in July.

Passengers booked on canceled flights may either be rebooked on competing carriers or asked to change their travel plans, Eastern officials said. Those diverted to other airlines will be compensated with a voucher for 50 percent off on a future domestic flight. Travelers who change plans to fly Eastern`s current schedule will be offered a free roundtrip flight on any domestic route, the airline said.

Until negotiations are concluded, Eastern will continue to depart Miami on Fridays, Sundays and Wednesdays and return from London on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, Parsons said.

The London route is Eastern`s first to Europe; when it was flown by Air Florida it was a very profitable one. First class seats on the DC-10 flights cost $2,000 for two roundtrip tickets on a special promotion and coach seats have sold for as little as $599.